(The following obituary appeared on the Reading Eagle website on January 17.)
READING, Pa. — Ronald Eugene Smale, 59, Exeter Township, died of natural causes Jan. 15, 2008, in St. Joseph Medical Center, Bern Township.
He was the husband of Gail Arlene (Yoder) Smale, at home.
Born in Reading, he was a son of Helen Marguerite (Meeser) Smale, at home, and the late Lyman Clarence Smale.
He was employed for 37 years as a locomotive engineer with Conrail, last working in April 2007.
He was a member of the Army National Guard.
He was local chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 851 and a member of Penn Lodge 709, F&AM, Concordville.
Surviving in addition to his mother and wife are two sons, Matthew L., husband of Teri Smale, Exeter Township, and Kerry L. Smale, at home; and two daughters, Jennifer D. Smale, Geigertown, and Stephanie L. Smale, Green Hills.
Other survivors include six grandchildren: Alex, Nicholas, Zachary, Michael, Isaac and Katie.
Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. in Dengler Funeral Home Inc., 144 N. Spruce St., Birdsboro, with the Rev. Glenn E. Brown officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Cemetery, Geigertown. Viewing will be Sunday 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday 10:30 to 11 a.m. in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Berks Unit, 498 Bellevue Ave., Reading, PA 19605.